~Author's Pov~

The villa of the Ranawat's was beaming with happiness. All those who were living in the villa were waiting for the arrival of the crowned prince of Pallavgad.

The elders of the house including Vishwanath ji himself was after the staff to ensure that everything was well looked up to. His wife Vasundhara , was ordering the servants.

In another room sat Nandini along with her daughter Aanisha.

" Aaj kuwar sa ah rahe hai! "Said Nandini.

" Ji maa, hum jante hai. "Aanisha said haughtily.

"Aanisha" Calling her name out loud, Nandini made it clear to her daughter that what she was going to speak about deserved all of her attention.

"Babasa Or Pallavgad ke raja ji ki dosti kafi purani hai, aur achanak kuwar sa ka humare ghar aana, ya phir aur spasht shabdon mei kahe toh, unko yaha bhejna, yehi sanket deta hai ki dono parivaar iss dosti ko rishtedari mei baddalna chahte hai. "Nandini said.

" Ha maa, toh isme itne shock aur anxious hone wali konsi baat hai. "Aanisha asked.

" Pallavgad ka raajgharana bharat ke richest families ke list mei shamil hai, kuwar sa se shaadi karke na sirf Pallavgad ki rani bana ja sakta hai upar se ek rich, well too do, socially classy family mei bhi shamhil huwa ja sakta hai. "Nandini said.

Sitting next to Aanisha she continued" Tum samaj nahi rahi ho, babasa ne usse bhi bhulwaya hai. Agar kuwar sa ne usse pasand kiya toh? "Nandini put forth her worries.

" Offo ho maasa! Woh ab tak aayi nahi hai aur hume nahi lagta aane wali hai. " Saying this Aanisha again started concentrating on her nails.

" Woh ab tak nahi aayi hai, kya pata aa jaye. Aur phir aaj toh sirf kuwar sa ah rahe hai, mera dil keh raha hai kuch dino mei unka pura parivar bhi aayega, tab woh aayi toh! Issi liye jo karna hai aaj nhi karna hoga! Kuch bhi karke, you will have to impress the prince today itself. " Nandini said with finality lacing her voice.

"Maasa, woh pata nahi kya karti hai, kaha rehti hai, yaha tak ki hume toh yeh bhi nahi pata ki woh padhi likhi hai bhi ya nahi, aakhri baar jab woh yaha aayi thi tab dekha nahi aapne kaise bhehenji jaisi lag rahi thi! I am very sure kuwar sa ko woh kabhi pasand nahi aayegi!" Aanisha said being sure of herself.

"Jitne tumse kaha jaye utna hi karo! " Nandini retorted back.

Her tone was enough for Aanisha to know that she somehow had to wrap the prince around her little finger today itself.

Only if she knew that he was the one who would wrap people around himself not the other way round.

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The prince finally arrived at the Ranawat villa. He was welcomed by the elders of the family, with Vishwanath ji heading the clan.

"Aaiye kuwar sa, apka swagat hai. " The head said, offering the prince a seat.

" Dhanyavaad! " The prince, Rutvendra responded making himself comfortable.

Vasundhara signalled the servants to bring snacks for the prince.

"Humare mitr kaise hai? " Vishwanath ji asked.

"Ekdam badhiya ha dadasa. " Rutvendra replied.

Simultaneously, the head started introducing the prince to each of his family members.

" Kuwar sa, yeh humari dharampatni, 'Vasundhara'.  Yeh humare bade bete, '  Madhavan ' hai, aur yeh unki patni 'Nandini'. "

The prince folded his hands greeting the couple.

"Yeh humare chote bete, Arvind ' aur unki patni, 'Priya'.

"Namaskar", the prince said.

" Yeh ghar ke bete Rishab aur Shreesh', aur ghar ki sabse chotti beti,'Saanika'.  "

"Hi", the prince greeted them.

" Ghar ke bade bete, bahu, aur dusri beti filhal yaha nahi hai. " The head concluded.

"Aacha."

By that time the snacks had arrived, and the head had requested the prince to indulge in them.

Saanika, the youngest one, couldn't stop admiring the prince, yes! He was simply the most attracting male species she had come across all her life. His sharp face, whitish complex, manly voice, physique like a model was creating butterflies inside her stomach. She was sure, he was the kind of man that her Di, would suit with.

More than that Saanika was sure that the prince would fall for her Di, I mean who wouldn't. Her Di, Aanisha was a model herself.

Just then, clicking of heels drew everyone's attention. It was Aanisha, descending downstairs.

Frankly, when the prince saw her he was smitten by her, atleast that's what his expressions were like.

She came and stood beside her siblings.

The head took pride in introducing his granddaughter to the prince.

"Kuwar sa, yeh humare ghar ki beti, Aanisha.

Fashion or modelling ki duniya ka ek bada hi mashoor naam, aap toh jante hi honge. "

The prince was just looking at the young women clad in red.

                ( Aanisha's dress)

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~Somewhere else~

It was the peak hour of the day, the sun was shinning overhead. But inside the deadliest place, that was surrounded by nothing but just open area as far as the eyes could see, one could hear faint wailing of a man, as the man laid semi- unconscious, begging for water.

It was a warehouse, about which not many people knew about, mostly because it was located in a very isolated place.

A black sleek car haulted outside the warehouse. A man was quick enough to open the doors of the car revealing a personality that was dark, ferocious and calm at the same time. Yes! It was Raaghav! Raaghav Yaduvanshi.

Coming out of the car, Raaghav made his way inside the warehouse, where he spotted the man whom he had ordered to tie up there since the last three day.

The man  who was almost on the verge of dieing, laid semi- unconscious.

The same man who had pulled open the car's door for Raaghav, brought a chair and a glass of scotch for him.

Sitting on the chair, like a king, Raaghav signalled that man, who was actually Raaghav's right hand, Robert, to wake the one who was tied up to his full consiouscness.

On getting the command, Robert woke the man up by splashing a bucket of water directly on that man's face.

The man got up with a jolt. On waking up the first thing that he did was, lick the water that was splashed on him and lied everywhere nearby, that he could find, in order to satisfy his thirst.

Looking at this Raaghav chuckled.

It satisfied him.

The man, whose name was Birju, on spoting Raaghav in front of him began pleading, " Kuwar sa hume maaf kar dijiye! , please hume khane ke liye kuch dijiye, kuwar sa, please, hum mar jayenge ..kuwar sa..please! " The words were coming out from that man's throat by great difficulty. After all he had not had anything, not even a drop of water since the last three days.

"Shuhhh!"

" Aab pata chala, jab do teen dino tak bina kuch khaye - piye kaisa haal hota hai woh?"

" Tum humare gunegaar nahi , inke gunhegaar  ho. " Raaghav said, with this few men clad in simple clothes entered the warehouse. These men were from the nearby village, they were all daily wage workers, who would work and feed their families.  The only incentive that they had, that somehow eased the burden on them was the free ration that they would get from the government.

"Tum inke bhukhe rehne ke kaaran bane the, aur aab yeh tumhare bhuke rehne ka karan bane.

Aage tumhare sath jo bhi karna hai woh yeh decide karenge. " Raaghav said this with  the calmest tone of his.

After this he gulped down the contents of the glass in his hand and stood up from his chair to leave.

Turning towards the workers, he said" Aap logo ko isse jo bhi saza deni hai woh de dijiye ga. "

Signalling to Robert to handle the matter, Raaghav made his way out.

Just as he was about to sit in the car, a man from among the workers came running  towards Raaghav, he was the same man who had informed, rather pleaded Raaghav to take action against Birju.

" Bohot bohot dhanyavaad kuwan sa!

Aap na hote toh yeh sahab aisi hi aapna dhos hum pe jamaye rakta, aise hi humare hisse ka anaj apne pass rakta. "

Raaghav just gave the worker a nod and sat in his black sleek car and drove away.

Birju, the man was the owner of the ration shop in the locality of those workers. Birju was blessed with riches and the blessings of  some politicians in that area. He would procure the ration from the government but never hand it over to the people in the locality. Sometimes..he used to give, but then the grains would be spoiled or other such issues.

To the workers, whose incomes were mere few ounces, taking away of the ration incentive, would mean that their families would have to sleep empty stomach.

On getting to know about this, Raaghav had surely made Birju realise, the importance of food.

But was Raaghav, really making people come on the good path through his unpredictable punishments or was he just getting into the bad books of some powerful people, only the future knew.

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